Washer systems for cleaning surfaces

ABSTRACT

A washer system for cleaning surfaces such as automobile headlights directs jets or shots of liquid from a nozzle against the dirty surface. The nozzle is spring-biased toward the surface to be cleaned, and each shot moves the nozzle by jet reaction from the start position near the surface to a position farther away from the surface along a path such that the sprayed area progressively increases concentrically outwardly. The spring returns the nozzle to the start position between shots.

United States Patent Norstrand [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [s41 WASHER SYSTEMS FOR CLEANING 3,127,116 3/1964 Pollack et a1. 239/284 x SURFACES 3,173,613 3/1965 Smith..... ..239/284 [72] Inventor: Leif Roland Norstrand, Malmo, Sweden FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Monark-Crescent Aktieboleg, Varberg, 1,463,124 11/1966 France ..239/284 Sweden 320,282 6/1968 Sweden ..239/ 284 Filed: Mar. 1970 1,455,898 9/1966 France ..239/284 J 4 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [211 No AnorneyYoung& Thompson [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Apr. 2, 1969 Sweden ..4684/69 A washer system for cleaning surfaces such as automobile headlights directs jets or shots of liquid from a nozzle against [52] the dirty surface; The nozzle is spring-biased toward the sur- 51 1 nosb 1/10, B60 1 /4(, face to be cleaned, and each shot moves the nozzle by jet reac- [53] "239]2842224 tion from the start position near the-surface to a position farther away from the surface along a path such that the [56] References Cied sprayed area progressively increases concentrically outwardly. The-springr'eturns the nozzle to the start position between UNITED STATES PATENTS ShOlS- 3,1 17,727 1/1964 Pollack et al. ..239/284 X 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPMBM I 3,656,691

-v Y SHEET 10F 3 Fig.1 Fig.2

fiwzmmx ZE/F IPOLA/VD Woeosnmvo WASHER SYSTEMS FOR CLEANING SURFACES The present invention relates to washer systems for cleaning surfaces, more particularly to surface-cleaning systems of the type in which a liquid is sprayed against the surface to clean the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems for the rapid and effective cleaning of a dirty. surface with the use of a relatively small quantity of liquid.

Another object of the present invention isthe provision of such a system which is especially well adapted for cleaning the lenses of vehicle headlights.

Finally, it is an object of the present inventiontoprovide such systems which will be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, operate, maintain and repair, and ruggedand durable in-use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which; k

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts in cross section, of a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of. the-structure. shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the spray head of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sprayer washerv included in the nozzle; v

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the baseor mounting about which the spray head swings; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the structure of FIGS, from the side opposite that which is shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown a vehicle headlight 1 having a conventional lens 2..'A support 3 is secured to the headlight mounting below lens2. An arm 4 is mounted for vertical swinging movement on and relative to support 3 about a horizontal axis, theann-4 carrying a nozzle 5 at its upper end. Nozzle 5 thus swings in a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the lens and which intersects the center of the lens.

It is intended that the arm 4 and nozzle 5, under the reaction of liquid discharged from nozzle, 5, will swing counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow 6 as shown in FIG. 1, or clockwise as seen in FIG. 6. To this end, the nozzle5 can have the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As seen in greater detail in FIG. 3, the male comprises a head Shaving a shank with a vertical bore 9 therein for the reception of a tube 10 which can comprise the arm 4 or which can be carried by the arm 4. Bore 9 communicates with another bore 11 at right angles thereto, the bore 11 receiving liquid from tube 10. A seat 12 centers a star-shaped washer 13 (see FIG. 4) on the conical countersunk head of a screw 14 which is received in screwthreaded relation'in head 8. Screw 14 is concentric with and is v surrounded by bore 11, so that liquid passing through tube 10 into bore 11 will escape about screw 14, and between the anus of the star-shaped washer 13, which is pressed against a corresponding conical seat in head 8 by the head of screw 14. The conicity of washer 13 in its assembled position is preferably about 45.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the structure at the or lower end of arm 4 is illustrated there in detail. A support 15 has a hollow screw-threaded nipple l6 thereon which can be screwed into the vehicle below the headlight or other surface to be washed. The bore of nipple 16 continues in a channel 17 in support 15 itself. An enlarged portion of channel 17 receives a hollow pivot 18; and for the purpose of assembling pivot 18 in support 15, one side of support 15 is removably closed by a cover 19 which is secured to support 15 by means of screws (not shown). Pivot 18 has a pair of oppositely disposed trunnions which are coaxial with each other and with the bore through pivot 18, these trunnions being slidably rotatably received in nylon rings 20 one of which is mounted in support 15 and the other in cover 19. A connector 21 extends radially outwardly from pivot 18 and receives the lower end of tube 10, which is the end of tube 10 that is opposite the a 2 end shown in FIG. 3. It is thus possible for tube 10 to swing about the axis of pivot 18, while remaining at all times in fluid .communication with a source of liquid under pressure (not shown) carried by the vehicle for introduction through nipple 1 v Piv'otl8 is normally urged counterclockwise as seen in F IG. 6, which is clockwise as seen in FIG. 1, by means of a coil compression spring 22, so that an abutment shoulder on pivot 18 contacts an'adjustable set screw 23 (FIG. 6) carried by support 15, by which the minimum distance between noule 5 and the surface'to be cleaned. can be regulated. Spring 22 bears against the side of pivot 18 which is opposite screw 23, with a force that is to some extent regulable' by means of a set screw 24in support 15. Set screw 24 also regulates the distance by whichnozzle Swill swing away from the surface to be cleaned,

under the reaction of the ejected'liquid.

Themeans (not shown) for supplying liquid under pressure to the system described above may comprise any conventional high-pressure pump having an output pressure of, for example, 250 atmospheres, so that the discharge pressure from the nozzle will vary, depending on the position of the male, from an which electromagnet the belt pulley of the pump can be ap-.

plied tothe fan belt. The pump can, as is usual, have a pressure liquid reservoir and a valve mechanism arranged so that the valve opens at about atmospheres to discharge'about -4 cm. of liquid per shot. If the pump is operated continuously,

then short shots of liquid of a duration less than one second will be successively delivered. Preferably, however, the system is soarranged that the pump delivers only one shot upon each actuation of the pushbutton. This avoids unnecessary liquid consumption. If desired, a circuit breaker can also be provided for preventing pump actuation when the liquid reservoir is empty. A reasonable capacity for the liquid reservoir is, for example, one liter, which supplies about 250 shots. All of this structure can of course be merely conventional and is well within the scope'of those having ordinary skill in this art, and accordingly need not be further described.

When used as a headlight cleaner, it is preferable that when the nozzle swung farthest away from the lens, the area sprayed by the nozzle will not extend outwardly beyond the edges of the lens, thereby to conserve-the cleaning liquid. The

area sprayed by the nozzle is preferably annular, but of course can be oval or rectangular or have other shapes.

This system can also be used for cleaning Windshields, and aids the function of the windshield wiper.

The system of the present invention tends to clean itself because it operates at high pressure. Of course, a replaceable filter can be interposed in the liquid line. In winter, it is of course intended that antifreeze compound be added to the i d 0 liqu'idjalthough the device will be injured by freezing as the belt pulley driving the device would simply slip if the parts were frozen solid.

It is of course also possible to drive the nonle by an electric motor or by a rotary fluid motor, in which case the return spring can be eliminated. i

To transmit liquid from the pump to the nipple 16, it is preferred that the outlet of the pump be connected by flexible tubing to thin copper tubes that extend up to nipple 16.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evidentthat all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those l. A surface-cleaningisystem, comprising a noule, means mounting'the nozzle adjacent the surface to 'be-cleaned for said swinging movement toward and away from the surface to be cleaned, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the nozzle and for moving the nozzle away from said surface during ejection of liquid from the nozzle under the reaction force of the ejected liquid 'and for returning the nozzle to a position adjacent the surface after said ejection, whereby the area-f said surface which is sprayed by said nozzle increases progressively as the noule moves away from said surface during said ejection.

2.- A system as claimed inclaim l, and an arm on which said nozzleis mounted for swinging movement about an a ds, and means mounting said arm so that said axis .is positioned outside the surface to be cleaned.

3. A system as claimed in claim2, and

spring means urging arm toward a position in which said nozzle is adjacent said in claim 3, and set screw means for approach o'f'said nozzle to surface. v 4. A system as claimed adjustably positioningthe nearest surface. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, and further set screw means for adjustablypositioning the farthest position of said nozzle from said surface.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, said spring means acting 1 against said further set screw means. I

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, said mounting means comprising an upwardly extending arm that positions said nozzle in front of said'surface, and means mounting said'arm for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axiswhich is disposed below said surface.

s. A system as claimed in claim 1,; said nozzleprojecting a Y circular spray, said mounting means comprising a slender upright arm on which said nozzle is mounted for vertical swinging movement toward and away from said surface under the reaction force of the ejected liquid.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, said nozzle directing said spray in a direction transverse to said am.

' l I! 1 & t 

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, and an arm on which said nozzle is mounted for swinging movement about an axis, and means mounting said arm so that said axis is positioned outside the surface to be cleaned.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 2, and spring means urging said arm toward a position in which said nozzle is adjacent said surface.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 3, and set screw means for adjustably positioning the nearest approach of said nozzle to said surface.
 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, and further set screw means for adjustably positioning the farthest position of said nozzle from said surface.
 6. A system as claimed in claim 5, said spring means acting against said further set screw means.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 1, said mounting means comprising an upwardly extending arm that positions said nozzle in front of said surface, and means mounting said arm for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis which is disposed below said surface.
 8. A system as claimed in claim 1, said nozzle projecting a circular spray, said mounting means comprising a slender upright arm on which said nozzle is mounted for vertical swinging movement toward and away from said surface under the reaction force of the ejected liquid.
 9. A system as claimed in claim 8, said nozzle directing said spray in a direction transverse to said arm. 